Piper couldn't help but watch in silence at the display in front of her. The lobby of the Hotel Rexford wasn't exactly thriving with people coming and going, so the display didn't garner much attention from it's few occupants.
Finally Sarah pulled away, breaking the hug with the ghoul. "I can't imagine what you've been through. I'm so sorry."
The ghoul's sadness shined through in his words. "It's been horrible, so, so horrible. Two hundred years of this!" He gestured at himself, shaking his head extravagantly. "I've had no one. No one to talk to. No one to.. care for. Everyone I knew was lost." He paused, still gawking at the woman. "How did you survive like this?"
"The vault." Sarah caught the radiating air of confusion. "Wait. You didn't know?"
"Know what? I know that Vault-Tec were a rotten group of scoundrels, that's for sure! Twenty years of service and nothing, not even on the list! How couldn't I be on the list? Your face is perfect and mine, mine is.. this!"
"They were a rotten bunch of bastards, that's for sure." Sarah sighed. "They cryogenically froze us. I only woke up recently. There was a malfunction in the systems. I.. I'm the only one who made it out of there out of all of the residents."
"Oh." The rep stared down at his shoes. "I didn't know about that. I've heard stories about other vaults since but nothing to do with freezing." The ghoul hesitated. "So your family?"
"My husband was killed, my baby kidnapped by an outside force. We were thawed out - I saw it all happen in front of me. Something went wrong after they re-froze us. Everyone was killed. Apart from me."
"I am sorry for what you went through. To be brought now into this world. Nobody knows what it was like before. This, all of it, it's wrong. So wrong. The bloodshed. The murder. The filth that we live in. I..I can't stand it."
Sarah nodded solemnly. "It's nothing like it was."
"And nobody, nobody wants an old vault ghoul hanging around! So here I am. In this rundown shit hole."
"You have nowhere else to go?"
The rep shook his head sadly. "No one will have me."
This poor soul. I've been dropped into this world but he's lived it, every single thing, for two hundred years. Surely there must be a way I can help. There's got to be something. Wait a minute...
"Do you remember the way back to Sanctuary Hills?"
"Yes." He nodded. "That robot of yours was too chirpy the last time I was there after the bombs fell."
"Yeah Codsworth is still there. But. There's a new settlement forming there, led by the Minutemen. Go there. Tell Preston Garvey that the General sent you. They'll sort you a bed, some work and everything you need. That's if your interested of course."
"Really?" Shock once again filled the man's voice. "You really mean that?"
"I do. And once I'm sorted with some business, I'll stop by. We can talk more." Sarah pointed at Piper, the reporter suddenly snapping to attention in surprise. "This is my friend Piper. She writes for a newspaper. I'm sure she'd love to get an interview with you. For another perspective on life before all of this."
"Absolutely!" Piper grinned, suddenly able to talk once more. "I'd love to hear your story."
"I.. I.. yes! Yes I'll go!" The ghoul sounded excited. "I'll go to Sanctuary Hills and tell them what you said. And you'll come and visit, right?"
Sarah smiled. "Absolutely. You know, I don't actually know your name."
"My name? It's been so long since anyone asked. It's Paul."
"I'm so glad to see you again, Paul. My name is Sarah."
"Ah, yes, thank you. I might have forgotten after all this time, Sarah." The ghoul suddenly stood up straight. "I'm going to go right now. I'll see you there, both of you!" The ghoul spun around, heading straight to the front door with a purpose.
Piper shook her head. "Jeez, Blue. That was unreal. I know I say this a lot with you but, wow."
Sarah stepped forward, pulling Piper into a silent hug. The reporter was startled slightly before returning the connection, feeling the comfort that Sarah now felt as she held her softly.
"It's okay, Blue." Piper whispered as she slowly mindlessly stroking the back of Sarah's head. "It's all going to be okay."
Journal of Piper Wright #7 (I think).Entry #26. On the road from Goodneighbor.
I still can't believe this is happening.
Feels like years since I wrote in this damn journal. My last update was a while back, that's for sure. Talking about paint? For the wall? Riveting. Everything's a little different now eh? I'd say it's probably for the better. I mean, I'm part of one of the biggest news stories of my lifetime. You know the one. No? Oh it's just the one that nobody knows about. That'll change though soon enough though.
It's funny. Part of me thinks.. should I? Should I print her story? Because I do enjoy having this exclusive. Just me and her. Seeking out the truth.
Don't give me that look dog. I know you can't read. But can you read my mind?! Oh brother.
The bombshell she told me in the hotel. Wow. I'm not usually lost for words. But I'm continually failing with the things she says. I mean how can you reply really? "OH I'm sorry you've shot 200 years into the future where everything you know is either ashes or missing. Fancy some gum Blue?" It's hard because I want to find the right words. Maybe it'll become easier as she adapts to all of this. Or I just find those words at last. I'm hopping it's the latter. I'd hate to see her loose hope.
And that meeting with her vault rep! How can you ever predict something like that? 200 years later and bang. They almost, literally, collide! I couldn't say a word. Their connection in those minutes.. it's just, a total trip. He's heading to her old home now. There's a settlement forming there, part of her Minutemen. I'd quite like to meet them. I'd like to see Sanctuary too. If she's willing of course. So close to that vault... It's so impressive how she handled that. You can tell she cares. Her heart is pure. And then afterwards.. she needed that. There wasn't any tears. She just needed that moment.
Spoke to Hancock after we left the hotel. "You mad at me?" He asked. What gave that away? Pointed us to the Rail. Magnolia was singing, damn, what a set. Of songs! Get your mind out of the gutter. A merc tried to sell himself to us, Blue smiled but shoo'd him off. Met one of Hancocks sources. Had a name for us - Skinny Malone. Heard a few tales about him before. Based up in an old vault. Said he'd heard rumblings of a certain detective there. I should probably tell her about Nick. Might come as a bit of a shock otherwise. Anyway we're heading there, resting now. Should be sleeping but why am I writing again? To keep sharp? To keep a record? I don't know the answer. She keeps shooting me this look. I can't read it. But it's got a smile to it, so I guess it's positive. Maybe she's hoping that this'll kick off her search for answers. I certainly hope so.
But what if it doesn't? This is the lead I have. It's my failure.
No! Keep positive. Lets find Nick. I'm sure he can help. He's got experience with things such as this. Well as much as you can have with Blue's background.
She says she's doing okay, but we're on our way to a vault. I mean it's not her vault. But still - it can't help her mindset. I don't want to push it, I want to take her words as the truth. I hope she's going to be okay once we get inside.
I really want Nat to meet her too once we sort this all out. A role model to be proud of. It'd be nice for her. Hopefully she's not getting an earful of it back in the city... Because of me. I'll hopefully see you soon, sis.
Okay now the dog's looking at me like I'm mad. You're the mad one!
No it's totally me isn't it?
Sleep? Sleep.
- P
P.S. Why did I even write this? I haven't even explained who she is or why I'm doing this. Great stuff, real cutting edge work. From paint to this. Doubt it'll get published one day. 'The real life ramblings of a journalist on the brink of MAAAADDDNEESSSS!'.
But in case it does. Her name is Sarah. She is the sole survivor of Vault 111. And I'm doing this for her. Because it's the right thing to do. And because.. never mind.
Next chapter - the search for Nick continues as they arrive at Vault 114. How will Sarah react to another vault environment? A little different here with the Piper entry, but I wanted a bit of her thoughts too.
I want to thank you all for pushing the story past 100 followers, that's super cool and I do appreciate all your love and feedback.